Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-29

LARGE AND COMPREHENSIVE
institution would in my mind be useless
Adequate provision would have to be made
to take in any road that might apply for
admission to the city in the future, as
well as those which are already assured.
II must for all time be known and be a
Union bridge; that must be the basis upon
which it is built. All roads must be adj
mitted on a common level with those that
enter first, and only upon these terms
would it be success.
And this includes in it a condition, that
it would take an additional mount OF
money to put the bridge and its approaches
in such shape that all the roads that may
want to pass over it can reach 1t easily.
This Of course is o condition that l need
not argue.
/ would be slow to recommend the build
ing of the bridge if the mere completion OF
it is all that is taken into consideration.
1t must be undertaken on a plan large
enough to take into account the building
of additional roads to the city. l under
stand that there is u pleasing prospect oil
the completion of the Wheeling and Lake
Erie to the west side ofthe river. Before l
would recommend my friends to take any
interest in the bridge, We would want to
see that accomplished. Enough should be
done TO insure us that the road will get here.
There is a great need of q line running
from the east side of the city into the
COnnellsville coke fields. If the bridge
were built and the Wheeling and Lake
Erie given entrance into the city, 1t Is
highly probable that such a line would be
built. If that were accomplished there
would be no doubt about the financial
success OF the Union bridge.
We have before US a large and complex
problem, but by taking it up carefully,
and fully considering every point as we go
along, it can easily be carried out. If the
committee want TO 60 further with the
matter and the taxpayers want to make
a substantial investment, on the general
plan ! have attempted to outline, | am
willing to 20 into details and discuss the
project in all its bearings with the COM
mittee. The times are not propitiOus for
the building of RAILROADS, and if the bridge
project did not possess the great merit that
it does, it
WOULD BE USELESS TO TAKE 1T UP.
If the people are willing to take it up
on this general plan, we are ready to pro-
coed further. 1t is not merely a consider
alton of what the bridge will cost, and
what interest the city, county and eastern
cauital can take. We must treat it in a
large, generous manner, OF let it alone, in
my opinion.
Col. O'Brien asked Mr.. Lynch if from
what he had learned concerning the bridge
he could give any idea as to the cost ofbuild-
ing it. Mr.. Lynch said he could not and
would not attempt to make any estimate
whatever, as he knew so little about the
condition of affairs that were he to nam
any figureit might have the effect of caus-
ing endorsements on both sides in the fut-
ure.
In answer to another question as to
whether the bridge would be paying in
vestment with the roads already here, Mr..
Lynch said he didn't possess sufficient in
formation concerning the amount of traffic
TO tell, aud he did not know whether the
existing roads would use the bridge. He
was of the opinion, however, that the
Cleveland, LOrain and Wheeling roads
interests called for the bridge, and it
would be a good interest.
When asked by Senator Scott il he
thought a belt line would he necessary to
the success of the bridge, SIR. Lynch an
swered that he could not answer that
question ON account OF his lack OF knOwl-
edge concerning the state of affairs in the
city. He stated that if his general idea
met with the approval of the committee,
however, he would like to talk with them
further and attempt to work the matter
out TO something like definite shape.
Judge Cochran then arose and said that
the argument he had pressed upon the
capitalists to whom he had presented the
matter was, that in addition to what
might reasonably be expected in the
WAY OF REVENUES
from railroads already here, such as the
Cleveland and P~ittsburg, the Cleveland,
Lorain and Wheeling, and the Ohio River
road, that the bridge would insure the
coming of other railroads. He thought the
railroad interests of the,countTy demanded
another trunk line and it looks very much
as if it will cOme through this way, and he
firmly believed that if the people of the
county and city would take action with
Eastern capital to build the bridge that we
could yet plenty of railroads. He said that
more than one bulk of capital is looking
to the completion of these roads to open up
routes to the coke fields and other regions,
and expressed himself as being sure that
Wheeling and outside capital will push a
road through to onnellSville, ifthe bridge
and all terminals are built 80 that we are
put in direct railroad connection with
other centres. He said he had heard a
large coke man say that if the bridge was
built he and other large capitalists would
take a big interest in running through the
road to COnuellsville, as they would then
have a Western outlet. The bridge also
means o trunk line through Wheeling.
In answer to a question by Chairman
Cruise, Judge Cochran stated that he did
not have the plans OF building the bridge
fully matured in his mind for several
reasons, but he thought the matter should
be attended to at once and definite steps
taken as soon as they prudently can be.
In answer to another question as to the
charter for the building of the bridge,
the Judge stated that it was possessed by
the Wheeling and Harrisburg Railroad
Company of which he is President, and he
proceeded to tell how and in what manner
his company had obtained possession of the
FRANCHISE AND SURVEYS.
He stated that the plan he had coptem-
plated was to have the bridge built by
Wheeling and Eastern capital, and his
company proposed to put In the franchise
and charter for a certain AMOUNT Of stnrk
the sum OF which was nominal.
This ended the talk, and Mr.. D~elbrugge
moved that a subcommittee of two be APP
pointed by each body to take the whole
matter in hand, consult with Judge Coch-
ran and Mr.. Lynch and ascertain from
them what plans were proposed, upon
what basis they would take hold of the
matter and gather such other information
pertaining to the subject as might be found
necessary or pertinent, and report to the
main body. The motion was carried and
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